Out of all the celebrity chefs, Raymond Blanc has to be one of charismatic and admired. The Frenchman admits that from the tender age of 13 he was spellbound by the Mediterranean magnetism of Provence. Famed for his legendary slow cooked dishes, the two-Michelin starred chef associates this cooking technique with Provence, where ‘bouillabaisse’ and
When The Almighty dished out the world’s beaches, Brittany must have been one of the first in the queue. So diverse and impeccably beautiful are the beaches in this region of France that travel critics writing for different publications rarely manage to have the same beach listed in each other’s top ten – such is
You don’t have to travel too far in Europe before you stumble upon an interesting town amassed with alleyways lined with stunning architecture and ancient relics. Corfu town, with its maze of narrow streets, dominated by an old fortress, ancient chapels, stunning gardens and a Venetian vibe that has maintained for two centuries, certainly has
La Merce Festival 2013 ~ Every year during the last week of September the city of Barcelona becomes particularly pulsating when it holds its biggest annual street festival, La Merce. Having taken place since 1902, the festival’s intense celebrations last for five days and are held in honour of the patron saint of Barcelona, Mare de
From the August 31 – September 15, 2013 the French town of Perpignan will be hosting the biggest international festival of photojournalism. The International Festival of Photojournalism attracts more than 230,000 visitors, and draws 3,000 professional photojournalists, press agents and photography agencies to Perpignan’s atmospheric streets. The festival first took place in Perpignan in 1989
The exquisite Spanish house of La Mar sits comfortably amongst the gently undulating unspoilt countryside of Catalonia close to the medieval town of Begur and some of the most prestigious beaches in Spain. The population of Begur can swell to ten times its normal size in the high tourist season; such is its reputation as
Festival Interceltique de Lorient – Because the Celts certainly know how to party! More than 700,000 people will descend upon the town of Lorient this August in a declaration of unification between the people of Brittany. The Festival Interceltique has been going since 1971 and is one of Europe’s biggest festivals. From Galicia to Scotland, much
Pedra Rubia is situated above the shores of the Rais Baixas in Galicia with the most incredible ocean and river estuary views. Looking down the river estuary towards the wide open Atlantic Ocean, the protected and beautiful Isles de Cies that are a mere 45-minute boat ride away dominates the horizon. The location of
Quinta da Aroeira is a beautiful old farmhouse-style bungalow set extensive and well-stocked gardens of a fertile and lush region of the Algarve close to the traditional town of Carvoeiro. The restored farmhouse for rent on the Algarve is delightfully airy with plenty of room for four people to spread out and make themselves feel at
If you are on the island of Crete on August 15 this year then be prepared for a long night as the island celebrates the assumption of the Holy Mary. The partying usually begins the night before and carries on right until the early hours of the following night. Similar to how every town and
